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Texas’ scorching summers may be weeks away, but that doesn’t mean spring is simply downtime for facility managers. This is the perfect time to inspect, repair, and replace your HVAC system. Strategic facility managers will also use this time to implement innovative upgrades that improve their current systems.
With that in mind, Kurt Hansen, Business Unit Leader, Mechanical Build at CEC Facilities Group, has provided guidance on how to improve your systems in 2021.
Adapting HVAC systems to fight COVID-19
COVID-19 hit the U.S. unaware last year. Very few business leaders understood the scope of the pandemic, or the effect it would have on the workforce. Even fewer had the foresight to adapt HVAC systems to slow the spread. Almost one year later, we have a better understanding of HVAC’s role in limiting infectious diseases. Primed with a better understanding – and room in the budget – many companies are taking steps to improve their building’s indoor air quality:
- Increasing filtration to MERV 13 or higher: This rating has proven to be effective at reducing the spread of infectious diseases. Not all systems can achieve this rating, so it’s best to get advice on the best option for your facility.
- Increasing outdoor air intake: This method attempts to flush out potentially contaminated air. It must be paired with a humidity, temperature, and filtration strategy to avoid an uncomfortable environment inside.
- Adding proven cleaning technologies to air-handling units: Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation light can deactivate viruses (and other contaminants) when air is stationary or flowing slowly. It is highly effective in coils, drain pains, and in-duct airstreams, but carries a high price tag. It also has a negative effect on living tissue, so it must be shielded. There are other promising technologies (bipolar ionization and photocatalytic oxidation), but each has unique applications.
- Molecular air-cleaning systems: Outdoor air intake and UV lighting require increased energy consumption. For schools and other facilities that cannot bear those costs, there are other systems that still provide air purification. enVerid specializes in this niche, providing low-cost, quiet, and energy-efficient solutions that are scalable, quiet, and have the added benefit of eliminating wildfire smoke.
- Adapting a pre- and post-shift air flush strategy: For large buildings with standard shifts, consider flushing the air for 2 hours before and after employees are in the building. This will help remove contaminants.
Prioritizing HVAC maintenance
When the coronavirus hit in early 2020, many companies looked for places to cut the budget. Unfortunately, many who chose mechanical maintenance are, or will shortly, suffer the consequences. Proactive maintenance is always cheaper than emergency maintenance in the long run, and since HVAC is responsible for as much as 40 percent of total building energy consumption, it can add up to large savings.
When it comes to HVAC systems, regular maintenance can lead to a more productive, engaged and efficient workforce, and better overall health. Upgrading and replacing old air filters is an easy start. Deep-cleaning heat exchangers, blower wheels, condensers and evaporation coils can also increase air-flow rates and overall indoor air quality.
Controlling office equipment through IoT
If facility managers weren’t familiar with wireless controls before the pandemic, they are now. In 2021, new automation products will become standard. Besides the convenience of accessing zone thermostats or control-damper actuators from anywhere with a Wi-Fi signal, these systems can integrate with occupancy sensors to regulate system usage.
These systems also provide more data, which provides two long-term benefits: remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance. These connected devices can produce an error code, communicate with the control panel, and reset themselves based on preprogrammed commands. It can also alert managers remotely of an impending failure, allowing them time to solve the issue before a loss of service. The devices can also create valuable information on the performance or efficiency of each piece of equipment.
Finally, 2021 managers will use IoT devices for automation. Using past data and third-party input (such as weather reports), the system can make smart decisions on upcoming patterns. For example, a storm front is expected to drop temperatures by 20 degrees in two days, and increase humidity by 10 percent. The automation device can make necessary changes to take advantage of cooler air intake and adjust humidity parameters inside the building to compensate.
Going green in 2021
HVAC systems have undergone a massive sustainability transition in the past decade, starting with refrigerants. LEED-certified projects have doubled in that period. That trend isn’t going to change in 2021. Many companies, due to their own environmentally friendly attitude or public perception, now seek renewable energy solutions. Governmental subsidies for these products may also increase. Solar-powered HVAC units, more efficient systems, and smart controls will all become available options for green companies.
Less technology-dependent strategies will also see an increase. For cooler climates, dual-fuel heat pumps combine an electric heat pump and gas furnace, which can switch between the best source for the temperature. Recycled material can be used to reduce heat loss/gain in air ducts. Ice-powered air conditioning freezes water overnight, then absorbs heat from the building during high-occupancy business hours.
These technologies also have an immediate cost benefit: the average commercial building wastes 30 percent of its energy. In a year where companies are looking for value, these could be highly sought-after solutions.
Whether you’re considering a new build, a refurbishment, replacement, or just need maintenance, it’s important to have a trusted advisor guide you through the advantages of each decision. CEC Facilities Group is a full MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) provider dedicated to providing comprehensive solutions for every type of building.
Want to know more? Contact Kurt Hansen.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_blurb title=”Kurt Hansen” image=”https://cecfg.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/kurt-hansen-sm-rev.png” icon_placement=”left” content_max_width=”1100px” _builder_version=”4.5.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_blurb_image=”width: 150px;|| ” border_radii_image=”on|200px|200px|200px|200px”]Business Unit Leader, Mechanical
khansen@cecfg.com
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